| Author | Message | ||
     Bevmiller |
I miss Battle Trax very much! We had a great series here in PA. Mike, you rock! | ||
| Regkittrelle |
Jaimec... There are still a few active brain cells hangin' about. | ||
| Reepicheep |
OOHH!! sounds like a great argument! I think that on my 9sx I could absolutely smoke myself relative to what I could do on any tuber as it ever rolled out of the factory. Course... JB2 would probably smoke me on his Victory, and Ferris could probably beat him on his road king... so the bike ain't everything. | ||
| Bevmiller |
My husband Mike and I both did Battle Trax. When he would ride my XB9S, he was always at least a second faster in three to four laps than he was on his 99 X1. | ||
| Jaimec |
I'll never forget my first BTX. It was at Danbury (of course) and I was on my R100RT. I had a great time in the practice run, but after the first timed run I saw what everyone else was doing, got discouraged and left. A week later at the District 34 monthly meeting Susan Buck walked up to me and told me I left too early. I explained why, she said I should've made a few more runs. The single run I did was good for second place in the "Bagger Class" and if I stuck around I might've made first place after a couple more runs! I wasn't aware there were different classes! But I do think I had a bit of an advantage with my 500 lbs R100RT vs the 800 lbs and up GoldWings and Electra Glides competing! But you're right, a good bagger rider can easily outride a mediocre sport bike rider. I'll never forget that guy in Daytona Beach on the Screaming Eagle Road Glide SMOKING the course! Only reason I got first place in the bagger class that time was that he was apparently a professional road racer. He was GOOD! Hope the insurance situation improves some day. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I put on a couple of miles riding this today. What do you think of the layout?  | ||
| Firemanjim |
Aw yes--a Go-Ped.My son James came up to Donner with us and ran it onhis hot-rodded Go-ped. Expansion chamber,big carb,changed the timing and upped the compression,that thing rocked. He spun the rear tire all over the course and ran faster than a bunch of the bikes.What a hoot. I remember Erik running the bike almost through your "stop box" at Portland and the tiny course set in and through the parking lot at Santa Cruz. | ||
| Spiderman |
What do you think of the layout? so...many...things....wrong...  | ||
| Regkittrelle |
Wolf... You didn't answer my e-mail, so I'll ask you here: Which dealer is this for? Also, what are you using for timimg equipment? That has a big influence on course design. Also#2; You've positioned your finish line so as to endanger those waiting at the start line. | ||
| Buellshyter |
So, BTX is gone. My local Buell dealer's cool twisty demo route was changed to straight lines . I guess next will be the demo rides themselves !! | ||
| Regkittrelle |
This thread has caused a number of personal e-mails to hit my mailbox; thanx for your support. I'd like to address one, in particular. The writer asked why I am such a "dickhead" about this, and assured me that he knows it's all about greed. That's his perspective, so I can't argue with it. But if you're of his mind, you might consider a couple of things. --The BTX concept is nothing more than a version of auto-X. It's not patentable or can otherwise be protected. It's free for anyone to try. And I'd like to see it done. But it absolutely has to be done safely as possible. In the years that I've been doing it there have been injuries. Fortunately none have been permanent. However, hands,elbows, ribs, clavicles, and ankles have seen their share of fractures and abrasions. Initially, I contributed to some of the accidents by inadequate course layout. As my expertise increased the accident ratio went way down. Also, as I switched from "Top Time" to "Target Time", the event became much more safe... and inclusive. So, when I harp on the safety aspect it could be seen as me being a "dickhead." So be it. -- I own the name. If you're staging an event, please show enough creativity to come up with your own moniker. -- As I wrote in my e-mail to Wolf, there are dealers out there that I "wouldn't piss on if they were on fire." A couple in particular have shown an unethical side that, quite frankly, amazed me. Spidey was privy to one of the situations. To his everlasting credit, he stood up to the dealer. I think it cost him, but it gold-plated his rep to me. --The greed part. I have always charged $1,000 plus expenses to stage a BTX. For an eastern dealer this usually totaled out to around $2.2K. (That's when insure was only $750 an event).Each one-day event takes three days away from home, plus the prep time in the office prior to the day. Has it ever been a money making enterprise? Nope, just ask my accountant. So why do I do it? Because it is hugely staisfying to be part of something that people really enjoy and, on occasion, to help someone become a better rider. Plus, there is a large creative aspect to it that satisfies me. | ||
| Lake_bueller |
--of the Buells, the S1 was the best BTX'er. Unless you're running Pro-Series rearsets and race bars. My S1W wasn't for shit at BTX compared to my S3T. The higher/wider bars make the low speed corners much more fun. I think the last time I ran BTX was at the Homecoming in West Bend. I took second but got beat by .01 seconds by a girl  | ||
| Court |
Well said. Let me add that I think it's quite a shame when someone puts a boatload of work in to developing something like this that any dealer would effectively "steal" it. Riding motorcycles around cones is not BattleTrax. I was a witness when Reg set up the first one. . . it was virgin territory, everyone had a great time, but you could see Reg processing the information and taking away a lot of "lessons learned". I've been to some BattleTrax events and frankly (I used to get to ride lots of interesting motorcycles in interesting places in 44 states) MOST the fun was what Reg and his personality brought to the event. That's just me. In closing, why . . . if you have an opinion that is different than someone else, does the internet get us to call a respected member (one who's changed the sport) a "dickhead". . .that's pretty much kindergarten. Reg and I have disagreed on plenty of things . . . never at one moment did the respect ebb. Someone, and I'm glad I don't know who, should be ashamed of the •••••• job their parents did. Court | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Reg, I tried to email you twice and it got kicked back to me both times. 522_mailbox_full;_sz=261860589/262144000_ct=856/25 000 Delivery last attempted at Sun, 20 May 2007 04:15:29 -0000 I'm working with Farrow's in Columbus Ohio, They are willing, but the ranges are tied up every weekend until October for Riders Edge. Let me tell you, after riding that layout for a couple of miles I was ready for a break. I will give you a call. Thanks for the email. | ||
| Daves |
"As I wrote in my e-mail to Wolf, there are dealers out there that I "wouldn't piss on if they were on fire." A couple in particular have shown an unethical side that, quite frankly, amazed me. Spidey was privy to one of the situations. To his everlasting credit, he stood up to the dealer. I think it cost him, but it gold-plated his rep to me." Amen to that! I'll never forget the look on the HD/Buell rep and my boss at Appleton when I had a meeting with the rep guy that thought I was going to tell all my koolaid secrets to him so he could go back to his area and give them away to "his" dealers. As if that wasn't bad enough, he then started talking about BTX. I soon figured out that they were, in fact, not running BTX but a rip off copy of Reg's idea. I kinda blew a gasket. I informed him, in no uncertainty, that I would NEVER be involved with a BTX rip off event in any way,shape or form. He (and my boss) wondered why I was getting so mad? I told him that Reg is my friend. You don't screw my friends and then expect me to play nice with you. That meeting was over.  | ||
| Regkittrelle |
I didn't mention you, Dave, because I wasn't sure you wanted that info out. Thank you. It is a great feeling to know that there are people who have your back in situations like this. And isn't it interesting how consistent people of integrity are; Many of you have had great dealings with Dave re business. Well, now you know it wasn't about money. (Heck, you knew that anyway). As for me, I'm about to leave for the Big Sur Coast. It's a beautiful day, and I've an article to write for FFuel about the sparkling white Buell Super TT sitting in my driveway. | ||
| Ezblast |
Yes Its a beautiful day and I rode the heck out of it - lol GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Spiderman |
Spidey was privy to one of the situations. To his everlasting credit, he stood up to the dealer. I think it cost him, but it gold-plated his rep to me. It was not a big a loss as I first thought it was. Being fired from that dealer was the best. went back to school, graduated and got a great job. Now I actually have time to ride, weekends off and for the first time ever, time to slack off and have fun. The days of seven day work week are loooong gone! That is until I open my own comic/bike shop  See standing up for your friends and what you believe in can pay out. But helping load a friends ::coughBradcough:: bike can cost you some money and a broken finger | ||
| Mikef5000 |
Last year I had an Autocross car and I raced almost every week. It might be worth it to you Wolf to call up the head of the Ohio Valley region of the SCCA. Maybe they can help you out with the route planning, or maybe they will rent you there timing equipment, cones, and announcement system. | ||
| Bomber |
I've contacted the SCCA about letting bikes run their Solo and Auto-X courses -- I could hear the coffee hit the keyboard -- Most fun I ever had watching a B'trax was when a couple of Milwaukee's Motor Officers ran around and around and around the course at the HD plant in '01 (I think) -- big fun, those guys just laid em on the crashbars, set the lights and sirens to "stun" and wowed the rubes for what seemed like hours (said rubes screaming their lungs out, btw, wiht grins that approached those on the Officer's faces) BTrax is great -- my precious acrylic resides in the Entropy Lab, in a place of Honor next to the Dead-Monkey-in-a-Jar me, I'd pay $135 to run again (which is what the Wisconsin State Trooper hit me for on my way to the last B'Trax I ran) Reg runs a class operation -- one of his BattleMasters (name of Griffen) could make a 105 degree day on asphalt more fun than the law allows! | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I know the SCCA won't allow bikes. But the local chapter might help out for a separate event. | ||
| Bomber |
that's great! their organizational expertise would go a long way to putting on a sustainable event! (Message edited by bomber on May 21, 2007) | ||
| Blake |
Reg, I'm very sorry that you were subjected to the miserableness some see fit to wage here; that it was delivered via a BadWeB PM is a blatant violation of our terms of use. If you feel like sharing the identity of the perpetrator(s), I'd welcome the opportunity to offer to them a reminder of our simply rules here. But to be clear, this is not to say that you may not ever have been a dickhead. | ||
| Psyclonej |
Thanks for BTX Reg. | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Hals tried to get something together for Homecoming 2007, but Reg was nowhere to be found...  | ||
| Spiderman |
That's already been covered Steve http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=4062&post=889933#POST889933 | ||
| Regkittrelle |
Those of you jonesin' to BTX check out the thread over on SadSAC... just like Battletrax (or similarly named). That game looks like more fun, and wouldn't have the insurance issues. No-o-o-o, Blake, that's not the way I operate. If people insist on being jerks I think they out to proceed unfettered; eventually they do more harm to themselves than anything we could devise. p.s. 800 miles in two days aboard the TT; too fun. | ||
| Regkittrelle |
Wolf... Was that you who left the message? Been out of town. Please try again, but leave a number this time. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Will do! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
This is what I know so far. We could have a Battletrax event at Cooper Stadium as long as the Clippers are not playing. The parking lot is HUGE and would cost nothing to use. NEXT ON THE LIST. Get insurance squared away... and get a hold of Reg. I will be calling you ASAP. Reg, Did you get my email? |
